20 Clever Ways to Save Money in Your Bathroom

August 31, 2017Doug Murray

Saving money doesn’t always involve making huge sacrifices. Even small adjustments to how you do things can make a big difference to your finances. A good place to start is the bathroom. Here are 20 ways to save your hard-earned money… most without a lot of effort.

Bathrooms

20 Clever Ways to Save Money in Your Bathroom

August 31, 2017 Doug Murray

Saving money doesn’t always involve making huge sacrifices. Even small adjustments to how you do things can make a big difference to your finances. A good place to start is the bathroom. Here are 20 ways to save your hard-earned money… most without a lot of effort.

1. Install a Low-flow Showerhead

1/20

1. Install a Low-flow Showerhead

1/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

A low-flow showerhead mixes air with the water it dispenses, so you feel as if you’re getting the same strong water pressure but you’re actually using much less water.

3. Adjust the Floater in the Toilet Cistern

When you adjust the water level in your toilet’s cistern, you'll use less water. One way to do this is to adjust the floater by using the adjustment screw, which you’ll find on top of the fill valve.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

4. Put a Bottle of Water in the Toilet Cistern

4/20

4. Put a Bottle of Water in the Toilet Cistern

4/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Older toilets don’t always have an adjustment screw for adjusting the floater in the cistern. An easy fix to this problem is to fill a plastic bottle with water and to then place it in the cistern. The water level in the cistern will rise and you’ll use less water every time you flush.

4. Put a Bottle of Water in the Toilet Cistern

PHOTO 4 of 20

READ LESS -

Older toilets don’t always have an adjustment screw for adjusting the floater in the cistern. An easy fix to this problem is to fill a plastic bottle with water and to then place it in the cistern. The water level in the cistern will rise and you’ll use less water every time you flush.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

5. Fix Leaks

5/20

5. Fix Leaks

5/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Leaky faucets, showerheads and toilets can add significantly to your water bill. Regularly check for leaks and replace worn-out washers.

7. Take a Shower Instead of a Bath

A typical bath uses about 150 litres of water, so make that soak a once-a-week treat and shower the rest of the time.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

8. Take Shorter Showers

8/20

8. Take Shorter Showers

8/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

If you stand under the shower for as long as it takes to sing along to all the songs on your favourite album, you may end up using more water than if you’d taken a bath instead. Cut down your time in the shower to a maximum of 10 minutes.

8. Take Shorter Showers

PHOTO 8 of 20

READ LESS -

If you stand under the shower for as long as it takes to sing along to all the songs on your favourite album, you may end up using more water than if you’d taken a bath instead. Cut down your time in the shower to a maximum of 10 minutes.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

9. Turn Down the Water Heater

9/20

9. Turn Down the Water Heater

9/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

There’s no reason the water in your bath or shower has to be boiling hot. For every 6 degrees you turn down the water heater, you can save as much as 5% on your energy usage. A good temperature range is between 55 and 60 degrees.

9. Turn Down the Water Heater

PHOTO 9 of 20

READ LESS -

There’s no reason the water in your bath or shower has to be boiling hot. For every 6 degrees you turn down the water heater, you can save as much as 5% on your energy usage. A good temperature range is between 55 and 60 degrees.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

10. Turn Off the Tap

10/20

10. Turn Off the Tap

10/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

When you leave the water running while you wash your hands, brush your teeth or shave, you’re just wasting it. Turn off the tap while you’re washing, brushing or shaving and then turn it on again for rinsing.

10. Turn Off the Tap

PHOTO 10 of 20

READ LESS -

When you leave the water running while you wash your hands, brush your teeth or shave, you’re just wasting it. Turn off the tap while you’re washing, brushing or shaving and then turn it on again for rinsing.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

11. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar as Cleaners

11/20

11. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar as Cleaners

11/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Instead of buying expensive cleaners for your bathroom, you can use baking soda and vinegar. For example, sprinkle some baking soda into the toilet bowl, add some vinegar and let it bubble for a few minutes before scrubbing it clean.

11. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar as Cleaners

PHOTO 11 of 20

READ LESS -

Instead of buying expensive cleaners for your bathroom, you can use baking soda and vinegar. For example, sprinkle some baking soda into the toilet bowl, add some vinegar and let it bubble for a few minutes before scrubbing it clean.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

12. Buy Store Brands

12/20

12. Buy Store Brands

12/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Generic store brands are usually cheaper than name brands and do the job just as well. If you don’t want to give up your favourite shampoo, you can still use store brands for items like toilet paper, cotton balls, soap or over-the-counter drugs.

12. Buy Store Brands

PHOTO 12 of 20

READ LESS -

Generic store brands are usually cheaper than name brands and do the job just as well. If you don’t want to give up your favourite shampoo, you can still use store brands for items like toilet paper, cotton balls, soap or over-the-counter drugs.

16. Make Your Own Toothpaste

There are many recipes online for making your own cheap toothpaste or tooth powder. Most of these use baking soda, which will not only clean your teeth but will whiten them too.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

17. Use Less Shampoo and Conditioner

17/20

17. Use Less Shampoo and Conditioner

17/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Most people use more shampoo and conditioner than they actually need. Experiment with smaller amounts, starting with half the amount you normally use, until you find what’s right for you. Your shampoo and conditioner will last longer.

17. Use Less Shampoo and Conditioner

PHOTO 17 of 20

READ LESS -

Most people use more shampoo and conditioner than they actually need. Experiment with smaller amounts, starting with half the amount you normally use, until you find what’s right for you. Your shampoo and conditioner will last longer.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

18. Stop Buying Shaving Cream

18/20

18. Stop Buying Shaving Cream

18/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Unless your skin is extra sensitive, you don’t need expensive shaving cream. Work up a good lather from your soap or shampoo bar and use this for shaving. Your soap won’t last as long but is still cheaper to replace than shaving cream.

18. Stop Buying Shaving Cream

PHOTO 18 of 20

READ LESS -

Unless your skin is extra sensitive, you don’t need expensive shaving cream. Work up a good lather from your soap or shampoo bar and use this for shaving. Your soap won’t last as long but is still cheaper to replace than shaving cream.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

19. Use Less Toilet Paper

19/20

19. Use Less Toilet Paper

19/20

Photo Credit: Brandon Blinkenberg/Wikimedia Commons

You’re wasting toilet paper when you use thick wads of the stuff. Even cutting down by two or three squares per use will make your toilet paper last longer. For a long-term hygiene investment, you may want to consider installing a bidet.

19. Use Less Toilet Paper

PHOTO 19 of 20

READ LESS -

You’re wasting toilet paper when you use thick wads of the stuff. Even cutting down by two or three squares per use will make your toilet paper last longer. For a long-term hygiene investment, you may want to consider installing a bidet.

Photo Credit: Brandon Blinkenberg/Wikimedia Commons

20. Use a Menstrual Cup

20/20

20. Use a Menstrual Cup

20/20

Photo Credit: Getty Images

A menstrual cup requires a bigger initial investment but it lasts for years: years in which you won’t have to buy tampons or sanitary pads every month. It’s more environmentally friendly too, since you won’t be filling the landfill with feminine hygiene products that take a long time to decompose.

20. Use a Menstrual Cup

PHOTO 20 of 20

READ LESS -

A menstrual cup requires a bigger initial investment but it lasts for years: years in which you won’t have to buy tampons or sanitary pads every month. It’s more environmentally friendly too, since you won’t be filling the landfill with feminine hygiene products that take a long time to decompose.